About this episode
Pastor Greg Laurie opens our new series with a sermon surrounding the subject of gender, identity, and the family. In a rapidly changing culture, we must look to our unchanging God for answers. Get the biblical take on these hot cultural topics. Notes Focus verse: Exodus 20 A true Christian bases their ideas and opinions on a biblical worldview. A nonbeliever bases their ideas and opinions on a secular worldview. ABC Culture: Anything But Christ. Jesus told us to be light, which means we speak up for what is true. If you recoil from what God’s Word says or it makes you uncomfortable, that would indicate that you don’t have a biblical worldview. The Ten Commandments can be divided into two sections. First, God deals with sins against Him. 1. Have no other gods before Him. 2. Have no graven images. 3. Don’t take God’s name in vain. 4. Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. Second, God deals with our relationship with people. God starts with the family because He created it. Our very existence as a society is contingent on the success of the family. That is probably why Satan hates it, so he has declared war on it. Almost all social ills are a result of broken homes and a lack of fathers. We talk about how to reduce homelessness and sending less people to prison. 95% of all homelessness and runaway children are from fatherless homes. 71% of high school dropouts are from fatherless homes. 85% of all youths sitting in prison today are from fatherless homes. A child from a fatherless home is 68% more likely to use drugs or alcohol. 63% of teens who attempt suicide are from fatherless homes. Fatherless daughters are 111% more likely to have children as teens and 164% more likely to have an out-of-wedlock birth. God’s order is to honor your father and mother. God is anti-sin no matter how it is expressed. 1 Corinthians 6:9–10 God’s order is for the family to be a man and woman, a husband and wife. As sinners, some may struggle with temptations that others do not. Transsexualism and gender dysphoria is the feeling that your biological gender does not match what you perceive yourself to be. There are bigger issues in play here. Young people want to find identity and be celebrated as well. Deep down, this is a search for meaning in life and a search for God. You don’t need to change your sex; you need God to change your heart. Having attraction does not mean anything more than you are a sinner. You are not defined by your sin. God’s order is a man and woman in a monogamous relationship in marriage. You are not born gay nor are you born a different sex than your biological gender. If you turn from this sin, God can and will forgive you. Sex in and of itself is neither bad nor evil. In its proper context, it is good and can even be blessed by God. Hebrews 13:4 Proverbs 5:15 God gave us sex as a way to create a unity between a man and a woman. 1 Corinthians 6:15 Sex is not some casual toy; it is a gift from God to be saved for that person you want to become one with. The topic of abortion or killing a pre-born baby is not a debatable topic. Life begins at conception, not at birth. Psalm 139:13–16 “You were deliberately planned, specifically gifted, and lovingly positioned on this earth by the Master Craftsman.” —Max Lucado Abortion is taking the life of an innocent child in the womb. Whatever sin you have committed can be forgiven by Jesus. --- Learn more about Greg Laurie and Harvest Ministries at harvest.org . This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners. Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupport See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.